I had bounced my checking account with National City while I was unemployed in the amount of around 60 dollars. It remained negative balance for a couple months as I was financially burdened. I tried to communicate with them and resolve the matter but informed them it would be 5-19-06 before I would recieve my first check from my new job (cingular wireless) that is a partner with their company. And it would be set direct deposit right to my account.
Well the fee's kept adding up on the account expectedly and they where not willing to be patient and work with me. They suspended my account after it had reached -$252.59 and refered it to their Loss Prevention Office per their company policy. I tried to call their loss prevention office to make payment arrangments and gave them the same story about how I wouldn't be able to pay it untill 5-19-06 and it would be payed in full. I was informed to call my local branch and make arrangements with them. I call the local branch and get informed that they don't deal with that and to call their loss prevention office. I informed them that their loss prevention office had told me to call them. Again I get nowhere.
I waited a couple days and called the local branch back again and a gentlemen tells me that it would be no problem with the arrangment and he would hold the account from being closed untill 5-19-06 and assured me the account wouldn't go to collections.
Two days later I receive a phone call from a gentlemen that informed me the account had been refered to Allied interstate collections and very impolitely insisted that for my best interest that I make payment immediately. He also went on to tell me that I could pay ONLY by electronic check or credit card over the phone. I told him that I didn't have a credit card and my checking account was closed and that was what the collection was for. I was concerned about the credibility of this company anyway because of the lack of professionalism and would have been weary to give any account information to them regardless.
I also informed him that I had made arrangements with National City and it shouldn't have gone to collections. I asked him if he would call National City to to get the situation straightened out. He very rudely informs me that there is no communication between the agency and the bank once the account has been turned over. He also tells me that I have had 2 months to pay the debt and its my problem now!!! I asked if they would take Money order or cashiers check and he told me no. He then went on to tell me that I could pay by Western Union for a twelve dollar fee. Also he refused to tell me his name.
Well 5-19-06 I go into the bank over my lunch hour to cash my check and the teller (Linda Brown) Willingly took the payment for the account out of my check and handed me cash for the difference.By this time I had made it a point to get names. I was relieved thinking that finally the problem was solved.
Making sure that it was resolved I tried calling Allied Interstate that evening and couldn't reach anyone there. I tried again the next day and got through to someone. I was informed that I would have to fax them a receipt showing that the debt had been settled with National City. Suprised that they couldn't communicate with them themselves to verify the debt was paid I told her it was no problem.
Later that Saturday I went into the branch to open my new employee rate account and the banker faxed out the receipt to AlliedInterstate. Finally maybe now the issue is settled.
I get home from work tonight 5-31-06 and there is a message from Allied on my answering machine. "For your best interest please call Allied Interstate immediately regarding collections." I promptly try to call them right back and the woman on the phone askes "Is this Karl Jr?" I tell her no there is no Jr and that my father has a different middle name, This This is Karl A - and I am the person this concerns.informed her that she simply had my name in her system wrong. She irrately told me then she would call back when she could talk to someone competent regarding the matter and hung up the phone!!!
I called back immediately steaming mad at this point. I recognized the voice as the same woman. I asked her for her name and she said "no, but how may I help you?" I said well if you don't rudely hang up on me again I had a message to call your company back regarding my collection. She states that if I wasn't such a F@#$ing idiot she would be glad to help me and hung up again!!!
I called back a third time. Hoping to get a different person that could transfer me to a manager to file a complaint. This woman informs me that there is no manager on duty and asks me whom I spoke to before. I inform her that she refused to give me a name but it sounded like she may have been a black woman. Hoping that might narrow the possibilty. She flies off the handle cussing me out and calling me a racist and asking what a black person sounded like! I told her I am in no way racist and it wasn't meant to be offensive but mearly a means to narrow down the possibility of whom I may have spoken with. She also refuses to disclose her name. Let me reitterate, I am not a racist by any means.
She then tells me to never call there again! I told her I was obligated to call and work the matter out and she hung up on me! I am really worried about this whole matter. It seems there is no way to resolve this issue nor is there anyone at Allied Interstate that isn't rude and completely negligent. The debt has been payed, I have tried my best to keep communication, yet I am still threatened to be reported to check systems and have it reflect on my credit. The employees at this agency seem to be getting kicks harrassing people and in no way are taking anything seriously or professionaly.
If anyone has to deal with this company then buckle up it's going to be a bumpy ride. This is truly the collection agency from hell!
Karl
Springfield, Illinois
U.S.A.
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